West Chester High School - Garnet and White Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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“BUILD IT WELL, WHAT E’ER YOU DO” IN THE beginning of our lives we all create thoughts and habits. These rule our later lives; they make or mar our future; they are the foundations upon which we build the structures of our minds and our “castles in Spain.” If the foundation is of rock, then our structures will stand immovable by the storms of life which seek to destroy them; but if the foundation is of sand, then all our labor is for naught, and our buildings will fall down about us in hopeless ruin. One of the strongest influences on the building of our characters is the environ- ment in which we live. Not merely our homes, our families, but also our contact with the outside world. Our earliest memories of outside associations are connected with our schooling. With sympathy we look back upon ourselves as small children, beginning our school careers, and unconsciously laying the foundations, brick by brick, for our future. School days are building days; building in mind, body, and character. Our minds are enlarged by our studies. Left alone, we would accomplish little, but guided and encouraged, our visions broaden until we see the world through a seemingly magic eye—the eye of knowledge. Through the athletic training we receive, we are slowly taught the fundamentals of physical well-being as we build our bodies to withstand hardships. The sense of fair-play and sportsmanship which pervades each school is a strengthening note to every character. In no place is there the temptation to do the wrong thing, and the satisfaction gained from doing the right, as in school. Can we not truthfully say that the Class of Nineteen Hun- dred and I hirty-gne has safely passed all pitfalls and come through with flying colors, ready to take a place in the world? All we owe to our Alma Mater can never be repaid; our love for the guide through our most impressionable years can never be expressed; we can only work, strive, build toward an unknown achievement that will bring honor and glory to the school of our youth. We are coming to the first milestone along the way—Commencement. It marks the place where we must start out alone to discover the niche which each of us has to fill; it means that the standards we have erected throughout our building days of High School are to be tested to the limit, but we are not afraid to meet all tests with high-held honor. Our hearts are filled with sadness at the breaking of the old, dear ties that bound us to our Alma Mater. We are unwilling to leave the well-trodden path for a new and perhaps unexplored one, but it is inevitable; the parting of the ways has come, although Time will never diminish the flame of love that burns in our hearts for our Alma Mater. We go forth; the greatest thing for us has suddenly become the building iof strong, enduring, satisfying lives that will do honor to ourselves, our school, and our Creator. “Build it well, what e’er you do; Build it straight, and strong and true; Build it high, and clear, and broad; Build it, for the eye of God.’’ Carolyn Harrar, ’31.

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Garnet and White Staff- 1931

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The Garnet and White a a a • THOUGHTS AT COMMENCEMENT TIME To thy duty now and ever! Dream no more of rest or stay; Give to Freedom's great endeavor. All thou art and hast to-day. SENIORS, four long years we have been coming to High School. Of course, there were times when we felt that we would be glad when it was all over and became tired of the work. But, all in all, haven’t we had a glorious four years together—not all work, not all play, but a happy combination of the two! I his has been preparatory work for us, just a small taste of the things we shall soon undertake. We dare not dream longer of rest and play; we must find our places in the world. We must give all that is in us to complete the duty set aside for each of us, to make this world better. Wc should indeed l e grateful to our Alma Mater for all it has meant to us work, of course, but also fun and fellowship with each other. Just as we have worked together here, we must work together in the world, wherever we may be. Just as we have had pleasures together here, we shall soon have pleasures with others. Things will be different, though ; we may have to work together in a different manner, to play together otherwise than we have been accustomed. But our Alma Mater has taught us how to adjust ourselves to circumstances. In contests with others we have learned to accept defeat as gracefully as success. Incoming ac- quainted, too, with those lessons that only defeat can teach. We have been taught that, if wc win, we should be sportsmanlike in the treatment of our opponents. e have lieen shown that success comes only to those who work, not to those who slip by with as little as possible. Finally, we have seen that we cannot live to ourselves in this world, but must consider others' happiness, if we ourselves would be happy. Let us fit ourselves into our environments, whether it be in this very town or a thousand miles away. “Give to Freedom’s great endeavors all thou art and hast to-day.” Above all, let us be grateful to our Alma Mater for so well preparing us for that which is to come. Adele Coleman, 31. OUR NUMERALS STAND FOR— Truth The Truth is always right. —Sophocles. Honor “Honor lies in honest toil.”—Cleveland. Industry “In every rank, both great and small ’Tis Industry supports us all.”—Gay. Reason “Strong Reasons make strong actions. —Shakespeare. Talents “Talent is that which is in a man’s power.”—LOWELL. Youth “The days of our Youth are the days of our glory.”—Ovid. Obedience Obedience is the key to every door.”—MacDonald. Nobility “Noble by birth, yet nobler by great deeds. —Longfellow. Enthusiasm “Nothing great was ever achieved without Enthusiasm. EMERSON.